Philip Suimei HORAN studied music at Maynooth University. After graduation, he worked as a flute and recorder teacher and performer. He began learning the shakuhachi in 1996 when he spent two years in Japan studying the Tozan-ryū repertoire with HANAOKA Seizan in Hiroshima. On his return to Ireland, he completed a masters degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Limerick. He continued his shakuhachi studies in Europe with Kiku DAY and was awarded a Tozan-ryū Jun Shihan from Jean-François LAGROST. Philip also began making shakuhachi in Japan and continues to make both jinashi and jiari shakuhachi. He also makes taegum, bansuri, Irish flutes and Renaissance flutes from bamboo.

He often performs shakuhachi with Dublin-based Japanese musicians who play Irish music, with the Experience Japan Taiko Team and with Charlie Marshall (biwa). Recent collaborations include performing on the soundtrack of the documentary, ‘A Doctor’s Sword’ and the Scottish National Theatre production of ‘The Reason I Jump’. He also regularly performs on bansuri with members of the Indian Classical Music Society of Ireland. 

Philip has published three score books of Irish music for shakuhachi. ‘Celtic Honkyoku’ contains transcriptions of ancient songs which have a free rhythm like honkyoku while his second book is a collection of songs. His third collection, published in 2020 is focussed on Irish dance music. He recently released a CD entitled ‘Shakuhachi Zen’, performed on jinashi shakuhachi which he made himself.